It’s a strange moment, isn’t it? One minute we’re popping champagne and setting ambitious resolutions for 2025, and the next, we blink, and it’s late July. The heat has settled in here in Arkansas, the fireflies are putting on their nightly show, and the halfway point of the year is officially in our rearview mirror.
If you’re feeling a slight sense of panic, like you had a hundred things you wanted to accomplish by now, take a deep breath. You are not alone.
The prevailing “all-or-nothing” mindset tells us that if we fell off our goals in February, we should just wait until next January to try again. But why waste five perfectly good months? The manic energy of the New Year is long gone, replaced by the steadier, more thoughtful rhythm of summer. This makes it the perfect time not for a frantic overhaul, but for a gentle, intentional reset.
Here’s how to press that reset button and make the most of the rest of your 2025.
1. Acknowledge and Appreciate
Before you look forward, you have to look back with kindness. What have you accomplished so far this year? And I don’t just mean the big, flashy goals.
Did you keep a plant alive? Did you finally try that new coffee shop downtown? Did you read a book you loved? Did you make it through a really tough week? Did you learn a new skill, no matter how small?
These aren’t trivialities; they are wins. Life is lived in these small moments of growth and joy. Grab a notebook and jot down at least five things—big or small—that you’re proud of from the first half of this year. Starting with gratitude reframes the entire process from one of deficit to one of abundance.
2. Revisit Your Resolutions (with Compassion)
Now, think back to that person on January 1st. What did they want for you this year? Maybe it was to run a marathon, learn a new language, or save a certain amount of money.
Take a look at those goals with the wisdom of the last seven months. Ask yourself a few key questions:
- Is this goal still relevant? Our priorities shift. A goal that felt essential in the winter might not serve the person you are today. It is 100% okay to let a goal go if it no longer aligns with your life.
- Can this goal be adjusted? Maybe running a full marathon feels impossible right now, but what about a 5k? Perhaps aiming for fluency in a language was too ambitious, but learning a few key phrases for a future trip is perfectly achievable. Think “edit,” not “delete.”
- What’s one tiny step I can take? Forget the finish line for a moment. What is the absolute smallest action you could take this week to move toward a goal that still matters to you? The journey to a thousand miles begins with a single step, after all. The formula for the distance d is simple: d=rt, where r is your rate and t is your time. Even a slow rate, over time, creates significant distance.
3. Set a ‘Rest of the Year’ Intention
Forget a new, long list of goals. Instead, choose a single word or a simple phrase to serve as your intention for the remainder of 2025. This acts as a compass, guiding your choices without the pressure of a pass/fail outcome.
Your intention could be:
- “Presence”: Focusing on being in the moment, rather than worrying about the future.
- “Curiosity”: Committing to learning and asking questions.
- “Nourish”: Choosing things that nourish your body, mind, and soul.
- “Connect”: Making a conscious effort to deepen relationships with friends and family.
Write this intention down and place it somewhere you’ll see it every day. When you feel adrift, it will be there to gently pull you back to center.
The year is far from over. There are still months of opportunity, growth, and joy ahead. Let’s walk into the rest of 2025 not with regret for the time that has passed, but with quiet optimism for the days to come.
What’s one win, big or small, you’re celebrating from the first half of the year? Share it in the comments below!
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